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About the BA in Social Studies Education Degree

Why Study Social Studies Education at Cedarville?

Would you like to teach history, government, geography, or other areas of social studies? Cedarville’s distinctly Christian, accredited adolescent and young adult (AYA) social studies education major will train you to teach social studies for grades 7–12 in Christian or public schools. You'll experience a quality education taught from a biblical worldview by committed and thoughtful Christians with extensive experience and expertise.

Through theological grounding, intellectual training, and your teaching licensure, you'll be equipped to impact the culture for Christ by leading students in the classroom. Teaching will provide you with daily opportunities to serve both your students and fellow teachers. At Cedarville, you'll build lasting connections, deepen your knowledge of God's world and its intricacies, and be prepared to engage your students in that same pursuit of knowledge, all for the glory of Christ.

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What Sets Cedarville Apart?

Program Overview

Program Highlights

Biblical — Professors who have vast amounts of teaching experiences will teach you through both your Bible minor and education coursework how to incorporate biblical principles in your classroom.  

Changing Lives — A degree in education is an opportunity to change lives for the glory of Christ.  At Cedarville, you will find many ways to pursue your passion and hone your teaching skills: tutoring local students, serving students with disabilities, teaching in area schools ministries, and educating diverse communities.  You will see your work with students as a mission field. 

Student Teaching Options — You can choose to complete your student teaching experience locally in Christian or public schools or in a foreign country approved by the School of Education.

Diverse  — You will take part in innovative field experiences or clinical practice for both conventional and distance learning programs that provide experiences with grade K-12 students from various socioeconomic groups and ethnic/racial groups.  You will have opportunities to work with English language learners and students with mild/moderate disabilities.  You can choose to complete your student teaching experience locally in Christian or public schools or in a foreign country approved by the School of Education. Cedarville offers a path to cultural competency for Social Studies education students  

Placement Success

We’re proud of our successful graduates! 100% of recent education graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation. Check out Cedarville’s other placement rates.

Cedarville's Placement Rates

What Can You Do With Social Studies Education?

  • Our teacher candidates are known for their quality of education, commitment to the field of education, and diversified experiences that prepare them for teaching in the classroom. Cedarville education graduates are teaching all around the world in public, private, Christian, urban, and mission schools.
  • Every teacher candidate is required to complete licensure exams in order to be a licensed teacher in the state of Ohio. Teacher candidates at Cedarville University are well prepared for these exams, as evidenced by excellent exam pass rates.
  • As a graduate of the Teacher Education Program at Cedarville University, you are eligible to pursue two teaching certifications. Our program enables you to apply for a state of Ohio teaching license in your field of study that may be transferred to any state within the United States, providing all requirements are met for that state. You are also eligible to apply for an Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) certificate, which is nationally recognized among Christian schools and does not require state-to-state transfer.

Graduate and professional programs and employers welcome Cedarville University graduates each year. It is important to note that most professional career fields you may pursue require additional education, experience, and/or licensure beyond the completion of your Cedarville University undergraduate degree.

Opportunities to Learn Outside the Classroom

Your coursework will be complemented by the following opportunities as you complete your secondary education degree.

Field Experiences Early and Often! — The School of Education and Social Work believes that our teacher candidates should have many hands-on experiences in schools. That is why you will engage in local school settings during your first year as a teacher candidate at Cedarville University and will continue to experience teaching within a school setting each year of your teacher training at Cedarville. By the time you graduate, you will have completed more than 600 hours in classroom experiences!

Student Education Association (SEA) — Cedarville's education student organization is a Christ-centered community built on equipping teachers to serve each other and those around them. Throughout the year, you will participate in professional growth events, ministry opportunities, and fun activities. You will also have ministry opportunities through the adopt-a-senior program, the birthday ministry, breakfast for teachers, and other ministries. Any education major is welcome!

Partnership Programs — These programs allow you to be part of field experience and classroom learning within one of the schools in nearby participating school districts. You will learn teaching strategies and practices from Cedarville University professors while engaging those practices and theories in real classrooms with real students and teachers.

Cross-Cultural Experiences/Classes in Ireland — The School of Education and Social Work routinely explores new cross-cultural experiences for teacher candidates to diversify their field experiences. Periodically, faculty lead a group of teacher candidates to Ireland to complete core teaching courses in another culture. As part of this three-week adventure, you will earn credit for your courses, observe classrooms and the education system in another country, and have one-on-one opportunities to minister to the people of Ireland.

Overseas Student Teaching Program — You may choose to complete your student-teaching experience overseas. This experience occurs as the final semester of your study as a teacher candidate at Cedarville University. You will spend approximately 14-16 weeks overseas in an English-speaking school. The School of Education and Social Work works with STAGE/CCTECC to coordinate an overseas experience for teacher candidates who wish to complete their student teaching internship abroad. You may choose to go to almost any country in the world and will receive specialized training for this experience.

Recent teacher candidates have completed their Overseas Student Teaching Program in the following locations:

  • Australia
  • China
  • Columbia
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Guatemala
  • Honduras
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Kenya
  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Nepal
  • New Zealand
  • Niger
  • Portugal
  • Spain
  • South Africa

Program Curriculum

Building on your general education liberal arts and Bible minor courses, you will take education foundations and methods courses as well as core social studies courses.

Sample courses:

  • Clinical Teaching in Social Studies
  • Principles of Teaching AYA Learners

Start Your Degree in High School!

Save time and money in college by taking dual enrollment courses now. Discover how you can complete your education degree one semester early with the Dual Enrollment Pathway to Education.

Explore the Dual Enrollment Pathway

Program Format and Related Programs

Cedarville offers graduate and undergraduate programs with flexible completion options. You may also want to consider these related programs as you choose the degree or program that is the best fit for you.

Program Level and Format

  • Undergraduate
  • Residential
  • 4-Year
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From Our Students:

  • The faculty go out of their way to serve students and equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to engage the world critically as a follower of Christ. The professors are not only incredibly knowledgeable in their fields, but they never cease to challenge me and push me to work harder, think deeper, and reach farther in my education and in my future career. I am beyond blessed to have been a part of this department.
    – Emily Gifford '21 Department of History and Government
    Emily Gifford
Job and Grad School Placement

Program Faculty

Photo of Kevin Jones

Kevin Jones, EdD

Dean, Assistant Professor of Education

Contact

Photo of Lori Ferguson

Lori Ferguson, EdD

Assistant Dean, Assistant Professor of Education

Contact

Photo of Robert Clark

Robert Clark, PhD

Associate Professor of History

Contact

School of Education and Social Work
Department of History and Government

Program News

  • Dr. Kevin Jones.

    New Faculty Book: “Down to Character”

    Dr. Kevin Jones, dean of the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University, has spent more than two decades studying Booker T. Washington’s life and work — especially his classic autobiography, “Up from Slavery.” That long study culminated in Jones’ new book, “Down to Character.”
  • New teachers who recently graduated Cedarville University receiving school supplies.

    Helping Teachers and Showing Love Through Crayons

    As the days shorten and the morning air holds a hint of fall, recent graduates from Cedarville University’s School of Education and Social Work class of 2025 are back in the classroom — but no longer as students.